The Astor/Rosensteel Household

At around the time Elroy usually came home from work, Serenity was already there, waiting. She had gotten off work a bit early today. So, she had donned a dress, cooked up a full meal (1/5 of which, in particular, the peas) tasted like crap, and had gotten a plate filled to the brim with each food. Then, she waited by the door, smiling brightly for Elroy's benefit.

Seven o' clock on the spot (He'd been promoted a few times over the years, thus changing his schedule), Elroy's burgundy, rather beat-up compact pulled into their gravel driveway. He entered the house, not expecting his gorgeous wife to be standing right there; he was spooked for a moment, then he planted one right on her cheek. "Darling," he descanted, dropping his briefcase on a small table.

"Hi! I made dinner." She said, quite unnecessarily. "Dianna was with a friend in the yard for a while, and Adam spent the day doing something or other.. I can't remember. But good news! Even though my pay is mostly case to case, I got a raise for my weekly salary!"

"That's wonderful, dear." He didn't sound very interested as he kicked his shoes off by the door. "I'm starving, can we get to eating?"

"Uh-huh! Everything is on plates in the kitchen. Eat whatever." She took the plate and put it on the dining room table, then yelled for the children to get down there and eat. Dianna ran down immediately, and took her seat to eat.

Adam followed suit, taking his usual seat on the left side of the table. Elroy took the head. One by one, clockwise, the family took what they wanted from the plates and bowls and that.

So they had a nice, peaceful family dinner together.

Elroy mentioned something about sales being down.

Serenity said something about other things being down with the sales.

Dianna gave her an odd look, kind of a "what are you talking about" look that innocent children sported when confronted with innuendo.

Adam remained silent, as always.

Elroy gave his wife a look before returning to his disgusting, obviously canned peas.

Serenity finally broke the kind of awkward bland conversation. "Adam! Didn't you have a maths test? How did you do? Oh, no, it's summer.. Nevermind!"

Adam acted as though his mother hadn't said a word.

"So, Di, heard you were out with a friend earlier," said Elroy.

"Uh-huh! Our neighbor. Anthony Sawyer."
"Oh, did you see Rachel, dear?"
"Yes, she looked well. But, Anthony and I played croquet. He's my best friend."
"Well, that's great honey. What did you do today, Adam?"

"Practiced, studied..." Dare he bring it up? "Another string broke." He dared.

"Oh." Serenity sounded disappointed, while Dianna tried her best to keep from scoffing at the table.
"Well, we'll replace it eventually. Honey, maybe you should practice less. Or play the strings lighter.."

He nodded, taking another mouthful of chicken. Elroy had already finished eating, so he spoke up again. "What do you think of Potter taking Senior Undersecretary?"

"It's ridiculous!" Serenity said immediately. "This entire situation with him being in office is ridiculous. Sure, he saved everyone. He was the boy who lived. But now he's the man fumbling and bumbling his way through politics. Adam would be a better Undersecretary than him, and there's a 20-30 year age difference! This entire thing is heading towards a complete monarchy, with no public say in affairs. Potter's got everyone entranced with his stupid scar, and none of them see how much of an idiot he is!"
"I agree with mum!" Dianna said, putting a spoonful of mashed potatoes into her mouth.

"I think he's doing a decent job. He seems to have a handle on things, and... he DID save the world, and all. Is that what you're talking about, um... Either way, I don't think he's half-bad."

"That doesn't excuse the fact he's completely incompetent. See, the only reason he's doing well is from the person before him. There's a certain time-frame in which they have their weight carried for them by the past regime. As soon as that's dead and gone, he'll crash and burn."

"Ah, whatever..." Elroy helped himself to another scoop of potatoes.

In truth, things had been all but silent at the Astor house, save the daily routines and the idle chatter. They had a lovely house, the parents were employed and not about to change that, they had two children... they were essentially the definition of a "nuclear family". Minus one half.

[What's the half?]

[definition has 2.5 kids]

[Oh. Wait, couldn't the half be the one kid that was never born?]

[it's the average child distribution of american households

wait fuck it's UK

uhhhhhh

just go with it]

After dinner, Serenity started clearing up everything. Dianna went up to practice the piano, and Serenity turned on the radio to tune it out. Not that she was bad- it just got annoying.